Antenna unit for use in navigation system

• US 5,757,327 A
• Filed: 07/27/1995
• Issued: 05/26/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd. (Minebea Mitsumi, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd. (Minebea Mitsumi, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamada, Shinya, Noro, Junichi, Ogino, Toshikazu, Yajima, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Hoanganh T.
• Application Number:
  US08/508,024
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 343/872, 343/711, 343/713, 343/700 MS, 343/873, 343/712, 343/716
• US Class Current: 343/713
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3233 particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays

Abstract

An antenna unit for use in a navigation system includes a bottom cover and a unit case, a circuit board and an antenna main body are stored in the bottom cover, a cylindrical storage portion in the bottom cover is for storing the circuit board and the antenna main body therein, the cylindrical storage portion being formed integrally with the surface of the bottom cover, a cylindrical joint portion being threaded with the cylindrical storage portion, said cylindrical joint portion being formed integrally in the unit case, and the cylindrical joint portion being threaded with the cylindrical storage portion.

Claims

1. An antenna unit for use in a navigation system comprising:

a bottom cover;

a unit case connectable to said bottom cover;

a circuit board and an antenna main body positionable in said bottom cover, wherein said bottom cover and said unit case comprise a continuous enclosure case for preventing ingress of contaminants,

said bottom cover including a cylindrical storage portion for receiving said circuit board, and said antenna main body, said cylindrical storage portion being formed integrally with said bottom cover, said cylindrical storage portion including a first surface having first threads,

said unit case having a cylindrical joint portion including a second surface having second threads, wherein said first threads are connectable with said second threads, said cylindrical joint portion being formed integrally with said unit case,

said antenna unit further comprising a waterproof seal positioned between said cylindrical storage portion and said cylindrical joint portion for sealing said cylindrical storage portion.

2. An antenna unit for use in a navigation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bottom cover includes a recessed portion,

said antenna unit further comprising a permanent magnet and a back yoke positionable in said recessed portion,

said recessed portion being formed in a bottom portion of said cylindrical storage portion,

said unit circuit board having a surface facing said recessed portion and being covered with a shield case, and

said antenna main body being held in said cylindrical storage portion by a magnetic force of said permanent magnet.

3. An antenna unit for use in a navigation system as set forth in claim 2, wherein an outside dimension of said bottom cover is less than that of an outside dimension of said unit case.

4. An antenna unit for use in a navigation system as set forth in claim 2, wherein an outside dimension of said bottom cover is less than that of an outside dimension of said unit case.

5. An antenna unit for use in a navigation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein an outside dimension of said bottom cover is less than that of an outside dimension of said unit case.

6. An antenna unit for use in a navigation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein an outside dimension of said bottom cover is less than that of an outside dimension of said unit case.

7. An antenna unit as in claim 1, wherein said bottom cover includes a seal receiving portion for supporting said waterproof seal.

8. An antenna unit comprising:

a case for enclosing a circuit board and an antenna main body, said case including a bottom cover and a top cover, said bottom cover including a lower surface;

a stabilizing shield plate, mounted on the lower surface of said bottom cover, for stabilizing an electric wave receiving condition of said antenna unit;

a cable connected to said circuit board;

a draw-out opening, formed in said top cover, for drawing said cable externally out of said top cover,

wherein said draw-out opening has a lower portion having a cut-away portion, a width of said cutaway portion being less than that of an outside diameter of said draw-out opening.

9. An antenna unit comprising:

a case for enclosing a circuit board and an antenna main body, said case including a bottom cover and a top cover,

said bottom cover including a plurality of engaging wall portions respectively situated along a first circumference

said engaging wall portions including a plurality of inclined projecting strips, and

said top cover including a plurality of projections for connecting with said projecting strips, wherein when said top cover is rotated with respect to said bottom cover, said top cover becomes connected to said bottom cover.

10. An antenna unit as set forth in claim 9, wherein said bottom cover includes a recessed portion and said top cover includes a securing piece, wherein said recessed portion is engageable with said securing piece for preventing said bottom cover from being disconnected from said top cover.

11. An antenna unit as in claim 9, wherein said engaging wall portions are spaced from one another at regular intervals along said first circumference.

12. An antenna unit comprising:

a case for enclosing a circuit board and an antenna main body, said case including a bottom cover and a top cover,

said bottom cover including side portions having a plurality of insertion portions, each insertion portion of said insertion portions having an opening facing a respective side portion of said side portions;

said bottom cover including a lower portion having a plurality of securing portions;

a plurality of magnets positioned in said insertion portions; and

a plurality of back yokes positioned adjacent said magnets.

13. An antenna unit comprising:

a cover for enclosing an antenna main body and a mounting magnet, said antenna main body being connected to said cover by a magnetic force of said mounting magnet, said cover having a bottom surface, said bottom surface having an outer peripheral portion;

a plurality of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheets connected to a plurality of positions of the outer peripheral portion of the bottom surface of said cover such that said PET sheets are spaced from one another; and

a synthetic resin sheet, having a first side, a second side and a central portion, said synthetic resin sheet being connected to the bottom surface of said cover such that said first side of said synthetic resin sheet covers the bottom surface of said cover and said PET sheets; and

a central PET sheet connected to the central portion of said second side of said synthetic resin sheet, wherein said PET sheets are positioned outside said central portion.

14. A plane antenna comprising:

a resin case;

an antenna element positionable in said resin case;

a circuit board, positionable in said case, having circuit elements, said resin case including a bottom cover and a top cover for covering the surface of the bottom cover, said bottom cover including a storage space, said storage space having an opening for receiving said antenna element and said circuit board; and

a waterproof sheet positioned between said top cover and said bottom cover such that said waterproof sheet covers at least said opening in the storage space of said bottom cover.

15. A plane antenna as set forth in claim 14, wherein said bottom cover includes a seat portion, said plane antenna further comprising a packing positioned on said seat portion,

said storage space comprising a storage cylinder into which said antenna element and circuit board are positionable,

said storage cylinder including an outer peripheral surface having locking claws,

said top cover including a cylindrical projection for pressing said packing against said seat portion, said cylindrical projection including engaging claws,

said engaging claws forming a connection with said locking claws,

said waterproof sheet covering said seat portion, and

said waterproof sheet being held in position between said bottom cover and said top cover by said connection of said engaging claws of said cylindrical projection and said locking claws of the outer peripheral surface of said storage cylinder.

16. A plane antenna as set forth in claim 14, wherein said storage space includes a central portion comprising a storage cylinder having an opening into which said antenna element and circuit board are positionable, said opening being surrounded by an opening surface, and

said waterproof sheet having a size corresponding to the opening surface of said storage cylinder,

wherein said waterproof sheet is bonded to said opening surface.

17. A plane antenna as set forth in claim 14, wherein said bottom cover and said top cover are connected by at least one assembling screw,

said storage space having a central portion comprising a storage cylinder into which said antenna element and said circuit board are positionable,

said storage cylinder having an outer periphery base portion having a sealing groove,

said plane antenna further comprising an O-ring positionable on said sealing groove on the outer periphery base portion of said storage cylinder,

said top cover including a pressure projection corresponding to said sealing groove,

said O-ring being secured between said sealing groove and said pressure projection of said top cover,

said waterproof sheet including an outer periphery secured between said sealing groove and said O-ring.